You all have been so helpful with my other questions, I know that you will come to the rescue again. We are arriving for our first trip to New York on Good Friday for a week. I would like to find a church for Easter Sunday services and also a good place for Easter brunch and/or dinner. Also, any other suggestions for restaurants while we are there would be much appreciated!

There are so many churchs in the city, it would help to know what kind of church you are looking for.

The largest cathedral in the US is here in NYC and that would certaninly be memorable for Easter, great music, St. John the Divine which is on Amsterdam and 110th St. (Episcopal)

For smaller and yet beautiful church and grounds you might visit the Little Church Around the Corner which is on 29th St just east of 5th Ave. Great music there as well, a friend of mine is the Organist/Music Director and she is a wonderful musician.

Where are you staying and we can give you a bit more info.

Here's a link to another thread with some brunch suggestions.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34411109

There's also an older thread from last year with church suggestions that I can't find.

I agree with wantsomesun. Tell uswhere you're staying.

Sorry about the lack of clarification - this is our first trip to New York, and I'm still not sure about what parts of town are what. We are staying at the Sheraton Manhattan on 7th. We would be looking for a non-denominational Christian church. Thanks so much for your help!

How about being ecumenical and doing either Fifth Avenue Presbyterian (around 55 and Fifth) or St. Patrick's Cathedral. You would exit to witness the New York City Easter Parade. You know, "I'll be all in clover and when I look you over, I'll be the proudest fella at the Easter Parade."

There are still hats, (no Fred Astaire, unfortunately) now taken to extremes but it is a NYC institution that is fun to observe.

The choir at Fifth Avenue is professional still, I believe, with a quality that is amazing. St. Patrick's is majestic and awesome, whether you are Catholic or not.

LMF

Denise, as a nondenominational Christian, I can personally vouch wholeheartedly for Times Square Church. 8,000 people worship there every week and the music is kickin. It is an awesome church-going experience! Our church in Michigan has worked with the leadership and has taken part in their outreaches there in NYC. Times Square Church was one of the first churches working tirelessly on the scene at the WTC on 9/11.

Here is their website:
http://www.timessquarechurch.org/

It will take a subway trip, but it is worth going to Riverside Church at Riverside Dr. and W. 122nd. While you are in town, go into Macy's 1st floor and see the marvelous fresh flower displays. They are in the store windows, as well. As far as restaurants, if you get to Chinatown, I highly recommend Joe's Shanghai. They make delicious hand-made steamed dumplings. You can get temporary access to the Zagat guide online which will give you ratings to restaurants by neighborhoods, cuisine type, brunch availabilities, etc. Have a great time. We did the same trip a few years ago and had a great time.

Your hotel is at 7th Avenue and 52nd Street. This is mid-town, which is roughly the area of the island of Manhattan between about 30th Street and 60th Street (Central Park).

I second the recommendation of the Cathedral of St John the Divine, awe-inspiring architecture and they often offer alternative type services, take a look at take a look at http://www.stjohndivine.org. The cathedral is on Amsterdam Ave, quite a way uptown on the Upper West Side, nearest cross street is 112th Street, but it is on the 1&9 subway line which will take you right back to mid-town or you can get downtown to the WTC area very quickly on this line as well.

St Patrick's would also be a good choice, but get there early if you want a seat.

If you want to be downtown in the Wall Street or WTC area for Easter Sunday, then consider Trinity Church (Episcopal), right at Wall Street. Their graveyard is worth a visit, as many famous people are buried here. Take a look at http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/. If you go to a service here, you could have brunch in the South Street Seaport area, or the River Café (see below), or Frances Tavern (see below).

You should make brunch or dinner reservations RIGHT NOW for Easter and actually for most of Easter weekend, as many places will be booked. Some recommendations for brunch (most with outdoor seating or views) are:

River Café
1 Water Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Telephone (718) 522-5200
http://www.rivercafe.com/
Great food and stunning NYC views.

The Boathouse
Park Drive North and E. 72nd St.
Central Park
New York, NY 10021
212-517-2233
On the lake in Central Park. Great juxtaposition of trees and tall buildings behind.

Bryant Park Grill
behind the Public Library/Bryant Park
25 W. 40th St. (bet. 5th & 6th Aves.)
Tel: 212-840-6500
www.bryantpark.org/amenities/dining.php
American cuisine. You can eat indoors or outdoors (covered and heated) A great place for lunch or dinner.

Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street
(Corner of Broad Street)
Tel: 212-968-1776: 212.797.1776
www.frauncestavern.com
In the Wall Street area; a Revolutionary War-era restaurant and tavern (George Washington ate there) with very good food.

Tavern on the Green in Central Park is another idea. I have not eaten there in many years, and people here have commented that the food is kind of mediocre. Its hard to ruin brunch, however, so maybe that would be OK. The Crystal Room is very pretty. I think most hotels do a brunch as well, so look at the Four Seasons, the Plaza and other luxury hotels as well.

My general recommendations for New York restaurants as well:

Café des Artistes
1 West 67th Street
212- 877-3500
cafedes.com //cafedesartistesnyc.cest 67th 7-3500
Great food in a lovely romantic restaurant. No views, but the food makes up for it.

For some "Sex and the City" Atmosphere:
Tao
42 East 58th Street
(Between Park and Madison)
Tel: 212-888-2288.
www.taorestaurant.com
Fusion Asian food and good music, great ambience with the giant Buddha overseeing all. Try all their different martinis.

A perennial favorite French bistro is:
Café Un Deux Trois
123 West 44th St
(Between 6th Ave & Broadway)
Tel: 212-354-4148
www.cafeundeuxtrois.biz/pages/831018/index.htm

A bit further downtown (near Lord & Taylor) but a great restaurant:
Asia de Cuba
237 Madison Avenue (between 37th and 38th St)
tel: 212-7267755

Fusion Asian and Cuban (sounds weird but isn't). They have large portions, so a few appetizers and a few entrees shared by all will be plenty of food. Deserts are enormous.


A drink at the bar on top of the Peninsula (700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street) is a nice way to start or end an evening. They have good views.

The bar at the Royalton hotel is very cool and fun. (44 West 44th Street)